Aunt Julia and I are now on our way to the residence of the woman in the photo she showed me. I already pick a gown the day she phoned me. I preferred Mommy Helena’s choice since it’s lovely, and I don’t have a huge physique, so it’ll be perfect for me. Hugo, on the other hand, stated that he would measure first and he would make the choice the other day.
I remembered it is already months and I’m still at home all the time and don’t attend Hugo’s secretary meetings. I asked mommy Helena whether Cherry was still there, but she replied she had resigned, so I wondered how Hugo would have managed his time without a secretary.
He also often comes home late. Sometimes he can’t take off his shoes and coat and goes straight to sleep. I am the one who does the removal of what he’s wearing. Why doesn’t he tell me if I should come to the company and help him? I can do it. I’m not a fool. I can learn what a secretary does.
“We’ve arrived.” Aunt Julia patted me on the shoulder, which jolted me out of my reverie. We went down onto the sand and were immediately surrounded by dense, tall bushes. While Aunt Julia cleared the long grass and entered the carriage, we were riding in left. I assumed that when you opened those weeds, you could only see thick grass, but I was mistaken. There was a little cottage there, and at first look, it appeared as if the wind might blow it away at any minute.
Someone was coming out from inside the home before we could get near it. She stared at us as she dumped the water in the rice basin into the land. The rooster ate the stuff she tossed. I couldn’t keep the horror from showing in my eyes since the woman’s face was much worse in person. There is water on other regions of her face, and I fear she has an infection.
“Julia, what are you doing here? Didn’t I say I wouldn’t allow another guest in other than you?” She banged the bowl into a tree near her house. This is what Aunt Julia says every time someone else is here.
She was starting to get hysterical, so it immediately scared me that she would hit the wounds on her face. “Calm down, please. I’m Aunt Julia’s niece and she wants you to come with her because she wants to help you.”
She had cooled down at that point, but her unfavorable attitude toward me had not vanished. I’m sure she did not know her house was about to be demolished. “What exactly do you mean?” When she gazed at me, it was as if she could stab me in the ways she stare at me. That’s not frightening since she has only got one eye. My sympathy for her is still strong.
“They intend to demolish your house. Aunt Julia would have welcomed you to her home. She’ll look after you.” I smiled to comfort her, but her bed face remained unchanged. In-person, that looks like a tired cat and an observant.
“Return. I don’t ask for your help.” She was ready to enter the house when Aunt Julia stopped her.
“Get out of here, child. When you’re with me, no one can hurt you.” Aunt Julia’s eyes were filled with beseeching... But I doubt this woman will change her mind. Her face looks quite familiar to me. I’m not sure where I saw her, but I know I saw this expression somewhere.
“I have no idea what happened to you. I’m not in a position to question you. However, not everyone will harm you; try to allow the one who is truly concerned and attempting to enter your life. Give them a chance. There’s nothing wrong with it. I know it’s not the life you desire, but it’s what you’re accustomed to, and you think you’ll fit in here.” I’m not sure where I drew those lines, but I wanted to show her that not everyone has bad intentions and that if you’re weak, you won’t stay long.
She remained quiet and simply averted her gaze. I’m curious about what’s going through her head. Sometimes in our life, we believe that since something horrible has occurred to us, our destiny is so bad that we deserve nothing in the world.
That’s how I felt after my sister died when I felt my accomplishments were pointless. I was in misery because no one would look at me, but I recalled Aunt Julia, who was the first person who wanted to witness our success.
When her eye returned to us, she locked her gaze on us. Aunt Julia was the first to nod, and I smiled.
“Are you certain that it’s okay to be happy? What if it’s a disaster again after I’m happy?” I did not remain silent. That’s what I always tell myself. I’m also concerned that because I’m so pleased right now, there will be nothing left tomorrow. However, I did not reveal it to her. I took a step forward to be closer and extended my hand to hug her. She took a step back, but I quickly clasped her, since I missed my sister.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Julia and I will never leave you alone again.”
I didn’t know we were already on our way home; the only change was that we now had someone with us. I looked at the woman next to me, but I couldn’t remember her name. When I glanced at her, I saw she was wearing a black cloth over her burned-out face. I observed the part of her not-burn face that was now visible as she turned to the side.
As I studied her face, she gradually smiled and I feel like someone poured cold water on me when I realized her face. I patted her shoulder, and when she looked at me, I felt like a stump. I asked her for confirmation.
“What is your name?” Her response finally brought me back into the system.
“Soleil.”